Swedish Cuisine

Swedish cuisine is the traditional food culture of Sweden, marked by significant regional variation between its northern and southern halves across the country's long geographic span. Northern cooking historically emphasized game such as reindeer, shaped by Sami culture, while the south relied more on fresh vegetables, and the tradition as a whole favors simple, contrasting flavors, exemplified by the classic pairing of meatballs in a brown cream sauce with tart lingonberry jam. Cultured dairy products, a wide variety of breads made from rye, wheat and oats, berries, stone fruits and meats including beef, chicken, lamb and pork form the backbone of the cuisine, with potatoes commonly served boiled as a side. Other characteristic foods include gravlax and other preserved herring preparations, dumplings, and fruit soups made from rose hips or bilberries that are served hot or cold.